Only three stigmas per flower, one harvest a year and hand labour throughout: the facts behind saffron's value.
Saffron is often called "red gold". The comparison is not an exaggeration; it comes from the way saffron is produced.
Only three stigmas per flower
Each saffron flower has only three crimson stigmas, and these are the only part used as a spice.
Thousands of flowers, a small amount
Around 150,000 flowers are generally needed to produce about one kilogram of dried saffron. The stigmas lose much of their weight during drying.
A single, short harvest each year
Saffron flowers bloom once a year, over a short period in autumn. They must be picked quickly, ideally early in the morning.
Hand labour
Picking the flowers and separating the stigmas are largely done by hand. This is the most time- and labour-intensive part of production.
Anatolia and saffron
Saffron's bond with Anatolia is old. The town of Safranbolu in Karabük province takes its name from the spice, and the region's saffron-growing tradition is still alive today.
As a brand that values saffron, we want to make that work visible. Read Our Story.
